Alberta-wide photography festival is back again

Exposure, Alberta’s Photography Festival, is coming this February to celebrate all things photography.

“Exposure is a registered non-profit organization and its mission is to generate participation in photography to engage the local, national and international photography communities,” said Lizzie Carr, the Festival co-ordinator.

“We want to expand awareness, to educate, inform and of course, delight.”

There are over 40 different events showcasing the best of the submitted photography spread throughout Calgary, Banff, Canmore, Edmonton, Longview, Okotoks and Medicine Hat.

Carr said that there is a lot to see for experienced photographers and novices alike, and recommended picking up one of the Festival Pocket Guides.

“These handy little guides will help you navigate all of the happenings, and you’ll be able to find the information you need to choose which exhibitions and events to attend,” Carr said.

“Something I love about this medium [photography] is how accessible it is.

“Maybe it’s because the vast majority of people carry around a camera in their pocket every day, I don’t know, but there’s something about photography that welcomes everyone to participate.”

Kaitlin Moerman is a long-time Exposure attendee and has some of her own photos involved in this year’s shows.

“I got involved as a student at U of C when I was doing an intro photography class,” Moerman said.

“One of the requirements of the course was to go to a bunch of Exposure shows, critique the work and write up an article.”

Moerman said that she has a background in painting, and wasn’t used to the idea of using photos as an art form.

“I had always looked at photos as more documentary,” Moerman said, explaining that documentary photographs are still her favourites.

“I see them as a source for looking at time period and people and society and how things were the same, or different.”

Moerman also said that the act of photography can be full of self-reflection as well as reflection of the subject itself.

It raises questions such as, why did the photographer choose to take this photo? Why did they choose to focus on this aspect? And even, what is the photographer trying to say with the photo?

Moerman also said that seeing photographs in a gallery is special when compared to seeing them in an online setting.

“I think it’s very different to see work that’s been printed and displayed and installed rather than Instagram,” Moerman said.

We want to expand awareness, to educate, inform and of course, delight. – Lizzie Carr

She said much of taking in art is about the situation in which it’s framed, as well as how the viewer chooses to read it.

“When you make a photo, you have your own bias, you’re telling your own story, but when someone else looks at a photo, they’re using their own background to create an alternate story.”